AC Milan midfielder flirts with Tottenham

Somebody clearly forgot to tell Mark van Bommel that talking up an interest in joining Tottenham when your current employers AC Milan are playing them in six days time in a vital Champions League round-of-16 match might not be the best way of endearing yourself to the Rossoneri's supporters.

The Dutch midfielder, who signed for the Serie A leaders from Bayern Munich last month, spoke of his affection for the Lilywhites in a manner you would expect to hear a new Spurs acquisition with an Arsenal past attempting to convince his new fans that he's one of them, as David Bentley and Harry Redknapp have before.

He said: "It's one of my favourite clubs in England, that's all I really want to say. I really love the stadium. I know the training ground because I've been there with the Dutch national team. Rafael van der Vaart has told me a lot of good stories. I'd love to play for Spurs. I've told Rafael that as well."

Further evidence that a summer switch to White Hart Lane is a strong possibility for the 33-year-old World Cup finalist was provided earlier this week by Redknapp, who conceded that he should have fought harder to beat the Italian giants to his capture when it became clear that Bayern Munich were letting him go.

The Spurs boss said: "I could have taken van Bommel, it was probably a mistake - perhaps I should have taken him. It was a difficult one and I dragged my heels with it. I took my time over it, too long and we didn't do it in the end. He would have been a good player for us."

The first leg of Tottenham's first ever Champions League knockout match takes place at the San Siro on Tuesday and the Premier League side are [2.12] outsiders to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Will Spurs knock out the seven-time European champions? Tell us below...

Published: 9 Feb 2011

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